Experts cast doubt on Coalition's power price pledge

Energy Minister Angus Taylor has pledged to slash wholesale power prices, but experts say he is seeking to take credit for a result that was already predicted and largely outside the government's control.

The government says it will lower the wholesale electricity price by 25 per cent.

Mr Taylor on Friday announced that a re-elected Morrison government would introduce a "price target" to cut the average wholesale electricity price to less than $70 a megawatt hour by the end of 2021 – a 25 per cent reduction on current levels.

The wholesale market is where energy generators and retailers trade electricity. Wholesale costs comprise about one-third of household electricity bills, and a greater share for industrial customers.

Mr Taylor's announcement was an attempt to refocus public attention on the government's election promise to make electricity more affordable and reliable. The Coalition has been under heavy scrutiny throughout the election campaign for its lack of ambition on climate policy, including the absence of measures to cut emissions from the polluting electricity sector.

Read the story from The Age by Nicole Hasham and Cole Latimer - “Experts cast doubt on Coalition's power price pledge."

Climate change action off the agenda under Morrison government

Energy Minister Angus Taylor has unveiled a new energy policy focused exclusively on reducing electricity prices, in a strong signal the Morrison government will abandon all efforts to lower carbon emissions.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor with PM Scott Morrison

The move comes a week after the issue of climate change precipitated the ousting of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“My No.1 priority is very, very simple,” Mr Taylor said in a speech on Thursday. “It is to reduce power prices, and to do this while we keep the lights on.”

He would do this, he said, by empowering consumers to shop around, cracking down on price gouging, and increasing “reliable supply” – a phrase that has come to refer to keeping coal-fired power stations running.

Read the story from The New Daily by James Fernyhough - “Climate change action off the agenda under Morrison government.”

Energy industry calls on Taylor to not give up the energy policy fight

Industry is looking past the anti-windfarm headlines that new energy minister Angus Taylor has generated in recent years and hoping his expertise in the sector will allow him to forge a national policy.

The newly appointed Minister for Energy, Angus Taylor.

The ill-fated National Energy Guarantee played a central role in the downfall of Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministership this month, but the industry is urging Mr Taylor to not give up on energy reform.

Read Cole Latimer’s story from The Age - “Energy industry calls on Taylor to not give up the energy policy fight.”